A Person To Ease Her Pain

As Porsche and Anna walked side by side, he said, "Hey, make sure to lock your doors and close your windows when it gets dark." Anna laughed, playfully teasing him, "Porsche, you're such a scaredy cat." 

But suddenly, Porsche pretended to spot something behind her and let out a loud shout.

CLANK! 

Anna was startled and leaped towards him in fear. Porsche couldn't help but laugh, calling her "the bravest girl."

"Stop it, you really scared me!" Anna exclaimed, her heart racing. They continued down the alley, and Porsche couldn't shake the feeling that someone had disappeared into the bushes nearby. He brushed it off, playfully teasing Anna some more.

When they reached her house, Porsche cast a cautious glance at the corner of the alley. He felt like someone had been watching them, but when he looked again, no one was there. He reassured Anna when she asked if something was wrong, telling her to follow his advice.

With a grin, Anna said her goodbyes and headed inside, feeling grateful for Porsche's concern. She thought about how lucky she was to have a friend like him. 

Porsche lingered outside her house for a few minutes, scanning the area for any signs of someone following them. Finding nothing amiss, he eventually left, his thoughts consumed by Anna. He silently promised himself, "This time, I'll protect her no matter what."

"...."

A woman's voice pierced the darkness, screaming, "Your mother killed your father!"

A chorus of unfamiliar voices joined in, shouting accusatory words, "You must be like your mother!" The cacophony grew louder, with voices repeatedly chanting, "YOUR MOTHER KILLED YOUR FATHER!!!!!!"

Anna was jolted awake, her heart pounding, gasping for air as if she had been drowning. She stumbled out of her bed and rushed to the kitchen, desperately needing water to soothe her parched throat. The nightmares had left her feeling suffocated, trapped in a web of memories she wanted to escape.

In the dim light of the kitchen, tears streamed down Anna's face as she whispered brokenly, "I hate you. I hate you so much, Mama. And I hate myself even more for still missing you, for yearning to see you again. I miss your scent, your touch, your presence.I am trying my best to hate you and forget you. But these nightmares, they're tearing me apart. You should have killed me, back then."

Exhausted by her emotions, Anna curled up on the cold kitchen floor, tears continuing to fall as she drifted back into a fitful sleep.

The following morning, Anna awoke feeling far from her best. A throbbing headache weighed her down, yet she had an invitation she couldn't decline: one of her student's birthdays.

Despite her reluctance, she decided to take the day off from work, knowing she couldn't let her student down. Anna sifted through her limited wardrobe, finally settling on a simple, elegant white dress. It was a gift from that student's mother, a token of their appreciation for her dedication and kindness.

After deciding on the dress, Anna prepared a light breakfast of porridge and fruits to ease her unsettled stomach. The rest of the day was dedicated to cleaning her modest home. Anna's house, while not spacious, was her sanctuary. It consisted of two rooms, each with an attached bathroom, a small kitchen, and a cozy living room. There was also a storage room where she kept all her belongings from the past. She seldom ventured into the store room, fearing the memories it held would flood back and overwhelm her.

At 3:00 PM, Anna had completed her cleaning chores and decided to take a quick nap. However, before she could even reach her bed, the doorbell rang, startling her. She went to answer it, and to her surprise, it was Porsche standing at her doorstep.

Anna couldn't help but exclaim, "What are you doing here, Porsche?"

She added, somewhat taken aback, "Are you for real?"

Porsche explained, "I went to the store, and it was closed. I wondered if you were dead or alive so I thought I should check on you. Plus, I've brought some fried chicken so we can have lunch together."

Anna, in a somewhat rude tone, retorted, "But nobody invited you for lunch."